DESPITE having only appeared in a dozen games for Liverpool, Nabil El Zhar has been described by Reds boss Rafa Benitez as his "lucky charm".

The French-born Moroccan has certainly made a habit of bringing a bit of good fortune to his team so far this season, with his arrival on the pitch as a substitute so often resulting in an upturn in Liverpool’s fortunes.

His run began at the Stadium of Light in August when the Reds were struggling to break down a stubborn Sunderland rearguard.

Benitez looked to his bench and introduced El Zhar to give his team some width. Six minutes later, Fernando Torres had struck what turned out to be the winner.

A week later, the setting was Anfield and Liverpool found themselves trailing to a well organised and obstinate Middlesbrough side that looked set to inflict a damaging defeat.

With just seven minutes remaining, the Reds boss called for El Zhar again and was rewarded with two goals from Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard as Liverpool recorded an unlikely victory.

The routine was then repeated to similar effect against Standard Liege in the Champions League, and Wigan in the Premier League.

No wonder Benitez is so adamant the 22-year-old is his lucky charm.

El Zhar is reluctant to get carried away with the good fortune he appears to bring the team, preferring to focus his attentions on improving as a player enough to start being viewed a potential starter, rather than as a late substitute to be used only in emergencies.

“I just try to do my best when the manager asks me to go onto the pitch,” said El Zhar, who moved to Liverpool from St Etienne in the autumn of 2006.

“The most important thing is always what the team does, not what I do, and I’m just happy that there have been a few games where I have been brought on and we have gone on to win.

“When that happens it is good for me, of course, but it is even better for the team – and that is what really matters.

“The manager just tells me to stay wide and get forward whenever I can and I try to do what he tells me.

“Whenever I get a chance I have to make sure that I am ready. It is not easy when you come on late in the game but I have to give it everything I’ve got for the team.

“The most important thing for me now is to keep on working hard, to try to improve, and then we will see if I can start games.”

Benitez’s policy of fielding fringe members of his squad in Carling Cup ties is likely to mean that El Zhar will be given a chance of starting tonight’s fourth round clash with Spurs at White Hart Lane.

At this stage of last year’s competition, the winger struck the only goal of his Liverpool career so far when he scored with a 30-yard piledriver in the 2-1 win over Cardiff at Anfield.

El Zhar insists the memory of scoring in front of the Kop will live with him for ever, but now he is eager to experience more spine-tingling moments in a red shirt, and hopes the Carling Cup could give him the opportunity to live the dream again.

“I don’t have the words to describe the feeling when I scored that goal – it was simply amazing,” he said.

“It was a big dream of mine to score in front of the Kop and so to achieve that dream was something very special.

“It was a good game for me and I managed to score a nice goal. It was definitely the best goal I've ever scored and I was really happy.

“The Carling Cup is a big opportunity for players who don't play a lot to show what they can do, especially for a young lad like me.

“The boss has given me a chance and I’ve tried to do the right things on the pitch.

“Getting a chance in the first team has given me a lot of confidence, especially when I suffered an ankle problem in pre-season which meant I couldn’t train properly.”

El Zhar has featured on both the left and right wing for Liverpool’s first team and Gary Ablett’s reserve side and he is happy to play in any of the attacking positions.

“I used to play as a second striker but I’ve played on the left and right hand side at Liverpool,” he said.

“I think I’m better down the right because I am right footed, but I will play anywhere in the forward line.

“I hope to play more games this season and prove myself. When you are playing with world class players like Steven Gerrard you can only improve.”

He is unlikely to link up with Gerrard tonight, with the Reds captain set for a well earned rest, but at least El Zhar is in line to get another game under his belt and maybe even confirm his status as Benitez’s lucky charm.